About Me: I'm a photographer and writer raising three free-spirited children with my Argentinean husband in New York City's East Village. Growing up with my two sisters along the coasts of California and Oregon, I had a magically nomadic childhood, moving quite often but always counting on long warm summers at the beach. When I moved to the Lower East Side 15 years ago, I fell hard for the city and its pulsating creative energy, and knew that this was home. I drink too much coffee. I hoard vintage clothes. I write everything down. I have a pitbull named Nico who's the gentlest creature I've ever known and was my first baby, before babies. I'm deeply inspired by this city, and even more inspired by my children. I carry a camera with me everywhere I go. I'm married to a musician who's the funniest man I know, and he often jokes that I can't help but see the world through a lens.

I shoot for both private clients and commercial brands, and love the process of bringing a client's vision to life. I strive to capture honesty in my portraits- the mischief in your child's eye, the way you glance down with love, the little moments that pass us by- and believe that a truly beautiful photograph not only captures a memory, but preserves a feeling. I'm an artist, a feminist, and a bit of a perfectionist, and love a good challenge.

Tell us about your past work experience: I studied fashion and film at FIT, trained in fine art and figurative painting at the Art Student's League in NYC, and became a certified Reiki practitioner, but when it comes to photography I'm nearly entirely self-taught.

What industry do you work in?: Creative Consulting, Media, Social Influencers

Personal passions, charities or hobbies you love? : I've been painting since as long as I can remember (my mother was a professional artist) and have always continued as a pretty enthusiastic hobbyist. Creating art with my children has been a great way to get back in touch with that side of myself. I'm also a bit of a foodie with a soft spot for French cuisine, and while I'm no Julia Child, I do consider myself a somewhat decent cook. My children and I regularly peruse the Union Square farmers market and work on mastering French dishes in our home. I'm incredibly passionate about women's health and birth education advocacy, and have spoken on panels with Choices in Childbirth sharing the stories of my own three home births. Another organization that I deeply admire and support is Circle of Health International, which is a community-based organization providing pre and post-natal care for women in crisis zones all over the world.

Why do you want to be a part of heymama?: I've connected to such an inspirational group of women through Hey Mama since it's inception, and want to strengthen those relationships and build new ones. I know firsthand the importance and power of creating a "village" when you have children, and would love for us to be able to share our insight, experience, and talent to make this village greater than the sum of it's parts,

What are your personal / brand goals for this year?: In 2017 I'd love to both elevate my portraiture work and really dive into more creative brand campaigns and editorial photography. I'm always dreaming up about a dozen side projects at any given time, and would be thrilled to collaborate with other creative women and their businesses to bring those ideas to life. I also really love the idea of putting together group gallery shows/fundraisers with other artists to support and uplift one another and create brick and mortar opportunities to exhibit our work.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? : I'm incredibly uncomfortable having my picture taken! As much as being behind the camera feels like second nature to me, I'm comically awkward on the other side of the lens. People are always pretty surprised by that.

Words you live by or quotes you love?: "Leap and the net will appear." -John Burroughs

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?: William S. Burroughs originally said this but I have to credit my Dad with passing it along to me: “Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful — be concerned with doing good work and make the right choices and protect your work. And if you build a good name, eventually, that name will be its own currency."

Name one thing that scares the shit out of you?: Ha! Well I try not to think too much about it, but the imminent reality of living with three teenagers in a Manhattan apartment is a pretty terrifying prospect.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?: I'm incredibly uncomfortable having my picture taken! As much as being behind the camera feels like second nature to me, I'm comically awkward on the other side of the lens. People are always pretty surprised by that.

What part of your business do you feel needs the most focus // support // love right now?: I've built my career on portraiture, and absolutely adore it, but have been branching out into more commercial work lately and would love to grow that side of my business. I'd really like to network and connect with brands to bring their campaign goals to life through editorial photography and film.

If you could tell your 20-year-old self one thing, what would it be? : Trust your gut. When I entered my thirties I think I finally came to a place of realizing that as a woman and a mother, my intuition is one of my greatest tools. We're taught in so many ways to depend on outside sources for validation- when we get that degree, or get that phone call, or get that good review- and I think that like a lot of twenty year olds, I put more trust in what the whole world said than in what my gut told me. If I could go back and give myself advice, I'd say, "Babe, you got this! Trust your gut."